The Cherokee County Herald from Centre, Alabama • 1

'V I KILBY LIBRARY MAoT0W IIoHUHijOju 26TH YEAR, NO, 45 CENTRE, ALABAMA WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1964 EN CENTS County J2K.AL J) usiness and financia I forecast Centre as it was 75 years ago great developments in 1964 in until you see it; don't depend on blueprints, catalogs and super sales organizations. 26. Florida Home. I believe a small home in a small Florida city, and ownership of the vacant lot on each sidethereof, will prove a safe and attractive investment in 1964 for anyone who has a check coming in regularly from the North. 27.

Advertising. While TV advertising will continue strong for patent medicines and some other products, I forecast that honest newspaper advertising will hold its own. Newspaper ads can be cut out and kept for reference, which is impossible with radio or TV ads. L. McConnell lawyer.

Then William Vinsons store. He was grandfather to the Shropshires. Mr. Vinson owned quite a lot of Centre at one time. Next was my father and grandfathers law offices, but before this, there was a livery stable where horses and buggies were kept for hire.

Where Proctor Motor Co. is now. Then a house right on side walk where the Taleys lived. Mrs. Eva Crane who visits me is all thats living of this family.

Levi Webb had a blacksmith shop next I think, across from the high school on the corner. A family named Newton lived there. I remember Henry who was about She taught my father his letters, also everyone of his children and most everyone else. There was a vacant space to Levi Webbs house and then next was a little house where Mrs. Mat Marshall lived with her children Jo and Rose.

Rose is the author of "Martha of Cherokee." Next on this street was a vacant space used for garden for "Alabama House" hotel run by Mrs. Vinson and daughter Bettie. This lot was sold to Jeff D. Jordan for $1,050, one thousand and fifty dollars. Its priceless The Alabama House was known for its sumpt-ous fare and excellent cooking by Adeline McConnell, a negro who cooked there for 50 years.

The Court House was across the street. It was burned in 1882 and again in 1895. Where the Cherokee County Bank is, William Vinson had a saloon. A newspaper, The Coosa River News was established on this lot in 1878. The Shropshires inherited this from their grandfather and sold it later to G.

P. Smith, father of Mrs. Louisa Jordan for three hundred dollars. They also sold the next lot for two hundred and the corner lot where Jitney Jungle is to Will Snider for one hundred and twenty five dollars. Now in this block all I can recall was Dr.

Pratts drug store and thats because every nickle we kids got Dr. Pratt got it. He sold white wax chewing gum and the best candy that was hollow and filled with rum. My but it was delicious we thought. Dr.

Pratt was brother of Johnathon Pratt, inventor of the typewriter. He was register of Chancery in 1850 and had so much writing with pen and ink his hands would become cramped so "necessity is the mother of invention" it is denied that he is the inventor but the firm that took his patent pensioned him and his machine is on exibition in the British Royal museum in London, he sold all his property including slaves and gone there to have his machine patented. He is biu ied at Pratt hill near Mary Smith farm where he once lived -in a house on the hill. Where Treece Oil Company is now, Mrs. Jane Stiff lived with her daughter, Agness Harper and family.

Wash Stiff printed a newspaper "The Cherokee Along there somewhere. W. A. Cobb built here la'er. At the next corner Will Shropshire and family lived.

All dead except Will, Jr. On the corner where Tevis Burke ownes, Dr. Pratt ing Europe Italy and France, particularly 34. Inflation. Like the rest of the world, we will be tempted to resort more and more to inflation; but I forecast this will not be a vital factor in 1964 35.

Living costs. There will be continued upward pressure on living costs during 1964, even though the Administration may soft-pedal any abnormal rise in the Labor Department's index to prove that costs are being heid down. 36. Retail sales. I forecast that 1964 will show an increase in retail sales and in installment purchases.

37. Recreational equipment. I forecast that the great increase in leisure time and the consist ent gains in personal income will give manufacturers of recreation al equipment a prosperous year in 1964. 38. Synthetic foods.

I forecast that manv new synthetic foods 'cheaper than the natural, and just as healthful will appear in supermarkets in 1964. 39. Synthetic Clothing. I forecast that this new industry will develop notably in the United States during 1964, particularly as regards specialty work clothes. 40.

Auto parking. The auto companies are devoting much study to the parking problem. I forecast real progress toward mechanical parking in 1964. 41. Seat Belts.

I predict that insurance companies will put added presure during 1964 on all state governments to enact legislation requiring "roll-up" seat belts on all cars. 42. New inventions. I forecast that rapid strides will be made in 1964 in the direction of transferring mass through matter. 43.

Electronic Production. I forecast a great increase in electronic manufacturing in 1964. with emphasis on adaptation of space efforts to military applications. 44. Air Conditioning.

predict radical changes in air conditioning in 1964 via the reduction, and later elimination, of moving parts in the heat-withdrawal machinery. 45. Electric Heating. I forecast experiments, in electric heating in 1964 wboreby radio waves will heat only the individuals in the room, but not the air. 46.

Oceanography. I forecast to know that we will and support. nappy New Year. mav Drove to he a. ennA vear tn switch from some of the over crowded Dow-Jones stocks into other issues that are now overlooked.

12 Government Bonds The only government bonds that interest me are the long-term ones which may now be purchased at a discount to use in payment at par tor oeatn taxes, i torecast that more governments will be issued during 1964 and that their prices may gradually sag as money becomes tighter. 13. CnrDoration bonds. Those buying corporate bonds should either sticks to issues of under five years' maturity or keep their monev in the savines bank. I pre dict that long term corporation bonus will drop in price in ism as interest rates rise.

14. Tax-Exempt Bonds. Likewise, I predict that long-term tax exempt bonds will decline next year. They are even more overpriced than corporation bonds, because of heavy bank buying during the past two years. I do not look for this to be repeated in 1964.

Therefore, I would certainly confine buying of tax-exempts to short maturities; and I would avoid revenue bonds. 15. Interest Rates. I forecast that Interest rates will continue at least as high as today, and will posisbly rise through 1964 in order to keep gold here in this country and uphold the value of the dollar. 16.

Devaluation of Gold, forecast that there will be no devalu-tion of gold during 1964. I am personally acquainted with conditions in Africa, and will say that those who wish to speculate in gold mines should consider A-merican-South African Investment Co. Ltd. Readers should remember, however, that gold-mining stocks will go down as well as up, in accordance with many different conditions. 17.

Profits. I forecast that corporate profits will continue to rise in 1964, through possibly at a somewhat 'slower pace than recently. 18. Copper Prices. Commodity prices are dependent on two factors: Demand and supply.

Take copper: I believe demand will continue to increase during the electrical era we are now in. And, since my visit to Africa, I feel the supply of copper is almost unlimited. Hence I forecast little change in price on balance in 1964. 19. Other basic raw materials.

With some few exceptions, the above applies generally to many of the basic raw materials including iron and steel, and especially aluminum. The present firming in quotations will nor carry much further and could be subject to setbacks later in the year. on Rnrar. Suear Drices. how ever, will hold in a generally high range all through 1964.

91 Bnildine Suburbia. forecast that new building will continue around present levels rtirniiirh 1964. with additional growth in This ap plies to single nomes ana to a- nnrtment hoiLSfis. whfch OOUld easily be overbuilt as the hotels and motels have been. 22.

Public Construction. Otherwise, strength in building will occur mainly in the public sect or especially roadbuiding. 23. Real Estate. I predict that farms on the "right side" of cities will constantly increase in value during 1964.

I say "right side" because every city seems to have some one best direction in which to grow. This usually is toward the higher land and often to the. west: but this is some thing subdivision developers must watch very closely. 24. Rural Areas.

As I have said before, the way to buy real estate profitably is to drive out the main road away from tne city in which you live on the "rinht" side. Every few miles. stop and inquire the price of land so long as it is quoted by the foot, get back in your car and drive until it is quoted by the acre. Everything else being equal forecast that the nurchase of this land in 1964 will show you a profit over the long term. 25.

Florida Property. There is still a lot of land in Florida, and there are many retired people who are hoping to move there. I forecast that vnur best Florida buy in 1964 will be waterfront property. God made only so much waterfront land; but there is an enormous amount of inter-ior land which for many years will be good only for pasturge. Do not buy land anywhere mineral recovery, food supplements, new chemical derivatives, obtained through oceano- graphic research.

47. Cuba. People in Florida have no reason to worry about their nearness to Cuba in 1964. Russia will undoubtedly keep a controlling finger on Cuba until she decides to withdraw in a swap of some kind with the U.S. in connection with Berlin or West Germany.

48. War. There will be no World War in 1964, and even the "cold war" pressures should gradually soften and prove less costly. I however, am watching carefully how President Johnson and Premier Khrushchev get on together. 49.

Russia. I predict that the Russian government will vastly increase the manufacture of electrical appliances, and will have a 100 percent owned installment company which it will operate without competition. When I was in Russia it was evident from my talk with the vouns people that they would have to be given more of the ad vantages enjoyed by the free nations. 50. In this connection I should say that, like the U.

Russia is very rich in natural resources and in research. This latter is especially important these days. I was much impressed during my visit, with the Russian education al system which is developing a very able generation of young people. I forecast, however, that Mr. Khrushchev's real problem will be how long he will be able to hold these young people in line! Vacation home is damaged Considerable property damage was done on Summer Place Road in Cedar Bluff and a reward of $100 is being offered for in formation leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsi ble.

Apparently one of the homes was entered Thursday and the Tallapoosa, Ga owner said the place was wrecked. Several families from the Georgia city have property on Summer Place Road. Evidence showed that two men and a woman were in the vacation home. There was a bullet whole in the floor and a large puddle of blood found. Indications also showed excessive drinking.

Items missing include a shotgun and a jacket. Those having any information to offer are asked to contact Sheriff Mack Garrett. Some evidence has been located, but it is not conclusive. Wallace will make speaking lour Governor George C. Wallace will tour five Western states in January on a trip that will combine industry-hunting and six speeches on college campuses to explain the-South's viewpoint.

The Governor will speak at Colorado State University on January 7, University of Denver on January 8, University of Arizona on January 9, University of California at Los Angeles on January 10, Univesity of Oregon on January 13, and the University of Washington on January 14. The Governor and his aides will leave Alabama on January 6 traveling by airplane and return on January 15. During the trip, Governor Wallace plans to visit with leading industrialists in the Western states and urge them to bring new industry to Alabama. He will also appear on numerous televis ion and radio interviews and ex plain through the mass media the views and attitudes of Alabama and the South. On his- recent tour of New England and New York, Governor Wallace was warmly received and was pleased with the re sponse of the people there and their understanding of the South and its problems.

NOT THAT "My poor brother," said the inmate of a rest home, "is suffering from fallen arches." "What a soothed the visitor from the public welfare committee. "Flat feet, eh?" "Not at an," corrected the inmate. Abridge fell on him." I am still emotionally upset as I make this forcast after the brutal assassination of President Kennedy. however, will try to submerge my emotions and base this forecast of 1964 on the facts as I interpret them. 1.

Our New President. I state emphatically that? Presided Johnson may accomplish far more constructively before November 1964 than our late President would have been able to do. President Johnson understands better how to handle Congress, and has the confidence of businessmen. Therefore, I am reassured as to the first ten months of 1964. 2.

Election in November. At the Republican Convention in the summer of 1964, there will be a conflict between Goldwater and Rockefeller, and perhaps others For this reason, Mr. Nixon may slip in and get the Republican nomination. Certainly President Johnson will secure the nomination of the Democratic Party; he is a farsiehted man. and knows politics.

Therefore, with the Re publicans nominating any one of the three leading names mentioned above, I now forecast that President Johnson will be elect ed President of the United States in November 1964. All of this gives me more assurance that 1964 should be a eood year. 3. Tax Cut. A tax cut will be enacted sometime during the coming session of Congress; and it will surelv be made retroactive to January 1.

1964. The tax cut should help consumer buying; it may even increase general bust ness. 4. Civil Rights. Some sort of a civil-rights bill will be passed bv Coneress dunne 1964.

The Ao ministration wants to please the South and hold its Democratic votes there, but the civil-rignts bill now before Congress is not Satisfactory to the white people nf the North. Therefore. I fore rast that whatever civil-rights bill is passed before the election of 1964 will be considerably watered down. 5. Negro People.

The Negroes will continue to make progress and get more, but I predict that tiiA pains will have to come larg ely through changing attitudes of the people. Otherwise, the situa tion will be mucn uxe me prohibition problem which the good neoDle of the nation thought cmM be solved by legislation. Such reforms take place only as the minds and hearts of the people are changed for the better 6. Government spending. Of rnnrse in the lone run.

the sur vival of a nation should depend unnn its snendin? less than it takes in. Nowadays, however, it is unfashionable for consumers Mvernment to have Daianc ed budgets. Therefore, I predict that 1964 will see a bigger deficit than this years. 7. Depression.

Whether for hetter or for worse, the voters have been taught to believe they can and should get sometning fnr nnthine. and only a severe de pression could ultimately change this belief. 1, nowever, iook ior no depression in 1964, 8 Agricultural outlook. Al though crops, prices, and farm income may be basically dependent on the weather, much of the world is short of food. Russia's and China's heavy purchases of grains will do more to bolster ti farm income than will government-supported prices in 1964.

9. Dow-Jones Industrials. I forecast that the stock market as measured by the Dow-Jones Average will make a new high in 1964. but mav sell lower after the elections. However, readers must remember that the Dow-Jones Industrial list, which everyone seems to think represents the market, may be very deceptive.

10. Speculative stocks. Of the approximately 1550 stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange a majority have been going down while the New York Stock Exchange, a majority have been going down while the Dow-Jones list of 30 which everyone watches have been going up. This is due to the purchase of Dow-Jones issues today largely by trustees pension funds, mutual companies, and others that prefer fairly conservative and dividend-paying companies. I forecast that stocks not in the Dow-Jones list will do better proportionately in 1964 than they did this year.

ll. Switching. Based on my a-bove forecast, and having learn' that Jmvinc can aend stocks up, I predict that 1884, By Clyde Walden Reed More than 80 years ago my' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jo A.

Walden lived on the same Jot where I now live. I was born here February 14, 1883. My father built the house now owned by my nephew Dr. W. W.

White. He moved there and my three brothers Guild, Cliff and Ross were born there. My father owned the entire block and the one back of it. After his death Ed White who married my sister, bought the place and lived there with his family until his death. At the east end of the street that runs through these two blocks my grandfather Judge J.

B. Walden owned a block or so. I believe this street is named First Avenue. I do not know who named the streets but it does seem that it might have been named Walden Street as they owned the beginning and ending of it and as there was a street named for almost every one who ever lived here and for some families who were of a much later period. A Negro, Mose Hampton laid off the town in its beginning.

He also invented the first cotton gin, but did not get the credit for it as Johnathon Pratt did the typewriter. Centre was a small village or town from hill to hill. A dirt road running through which was very -dusty in dry weather and very muddy in wet. Beginning at Centre hill, West as it was called, the hill was very steep and in rainy weather was impassable, being of red stickey mud. The ruts were so deep a horse couldn't pull a vehicle through it and frequently a yoke of oxen were used.

The hill at the east end and below was woodland. recall as a child, hearing of Dr. Pace White, Tteb White's grandfather coming back from a call one dark night and bumping into a man hanging from a tree in these woods. We had a few lynchings in those days, also hangings by court order. I remember when Sherman Arp was hanged Oct.

10, 1893. He sold his body to Dr's White and Cabot for dissection. Earlier in fact October 25, 1885, a man named Dorcey and his paramour Jane Wade killed Dor- ceys wife. A mob from Chester field and Chattooga, Co. Ga.

lynched them one-half mile from town. They were hurried a stones throw from where I now live. Tht greatest scare of my young lib was the threat "yonder comes Jane Wade and Dorcey after you, if we stepped out of the safety of the house after dark and we usually forgot till dark to bring the white owls in to place under the beds. My fathers house was the first on the street at Centre hill. They had moved two rooms of the old bouse where they lived and built to the Dr.

White hou'-e. Hampton Street between my house and the Chevrolet place was never used as such. Jim Savage closed it, taking it into his yard. He lived in the two story house that is on the Chevrolet lot, later occupied by Thos. Matthews a lawyer.

In 1889 a church was built by Jack Chisolm, Lem Cobb's grandfather, where our Methodist church is now. Where our parsonage is was a barn for the preacher's horse. Then he had several churches to pastor. Where Jordan Hotel is was a hotel "The Tennessee House" built right on the side walk. Next to "The Tennessee House" was a large wooden building where White and Cabot had offices.

They had the body of Sherman Arp preserved in alcohol for dissection in the attic This was a scarry place for kids and we crossed to the other side of street when necessary to pass. Chris Daniel, a lawyer had an office in this building. There was a vacant space to Sam Ward's store, where Moss Furniture store is now. Will Snyder had a blacksmith shop next. He was an artist in iron and wood.

He built the scaffold where Arp was hanged never having seen one. He was the father of Mrs. Evie Johnson. Bob Smith had a store next. He was brother of G.

P. Smith. A vacant lot to corner where a variety store is. Pat Chisolm had a store here. Across the street where Steed Drug Store is W.

A. Cobb built a brick store in 1889. Next to that was office of John 28. Newspapers. I forecast that competing newspapers will continue to consolidate; and there may possibly be a return to the days when newspapers represented the opinions of some one man with courage, influence and personality rather than the decisions of a "cold" board of directors.

Note that this is something television is already trying to develop in its news reports, and newspapers must match it. 29. Strikes. I believe that 1964 will be free from large strikes. The "big of course, will be the negotiations between the auto workers and manufacturers.

However, I predict that both sides will arrive at a peaceful settlement before the deadline. 30. Wages, While labor will not get all the pay increases it wants in 1964, it will get the equivalent in "fringe 31. Employment. I forecast employment will rise further in 1964, due to a prosperous economy with new and expanding operations.

Unemployment will rise, to, because of the influx of young job seekers and displacement of unskilled workers by automation. 32. Work week. There will be continuing agitation to cut the 40-hour week in 1964 to a 35-hour week with the same pay. I forecast this will not be accomplished.

There may be a compromise to 37 and onehalf hours, though this will depend largely upon President Johnson. 33. Foreign Trade. Rising automation in the U. S.

in 1964 will enable us to compete more effectively with lower per-man hour labor costs in Europe. Labor costs in Italy are already rising, and inflation is threaten- We want all of yon appreciate your good Oar best wishes for a MRS. CLYDE REED my age and had buck teeth. To get me real mad they teased me about Henry Newton. My grandfather Judge J.

B. Walden owned the block where the High school is and lived where Mr. Causey lives. A house was on the front of the lot, a Dr. Weaver lived there.

I think Bill and Martha lived there. Prior to that, there was a branch in the meadow where the ball field is. We used to catch tad poles to watch them loose their tails and turn into frogs It was vacant to Woodie McGhee's place. Bull McBee and family lived here. They are all dead.

It was vacant lots to old house where Dorcas Meeks lived. Sneads have a business here now. It was vacant to corner where Post Office is located. Jo Wood and family lived here. He was grandfather to Ragans and Tatums.

Around the corner an old negro, Randle Pierson lived. At night he would get out his old bugle and blow the most weird sounds. It would scare us children. It could be heard plainly from our house. No cars, no noise no anything but darkness to scare kids.

We thought his bugle might be Gabriel's trumpet. Author Snider lived in a small house where Mrs. Odella Johnson lives. I think the family is all dead. Back to main street going west, opposite to Post office, Mrs.

Synthia Tatum lived. She was the mother of Dr. Sam Tatum. Mr. Coley lives here now.

Next to him Judge Leaths large family lived, all dead I believe. Then Col. Reeves a lawyer lived next. The town of Centre ended at the Reeves place. There was no street where Iris Drive is now.

Hugh Reed, Sr. bought the Reeves place and built a house and we lived there until it was burned in 1933 or 35. Hugh Reed, Jr. owns the place now, having sold the front to the Cherokee Electric Cooperative. The old two room, two teacher school house was next, with the Baptist Church in front.

I remember how the hogs slept under the school and church and it was impossible to sit still in school on account of fleas. I don't think at that time there were any services in the church. One would hardly believe it to see the magnifficent building there now. The boys at school to catch the fleas, would skin pine logs and the resin would cover them and the fleas would hop on them and get stuck. A kind of fly paper so to speak.

There was no flea powder, fly paper or any of the things we have now to combat disease and insects. No screens in the houses. We would keep a negro boy to fan flies off the table with a beautiful peacock feather brush while we ate. It seems incredulous now. Miss Jennie Haye's place was next to school house where Dr.

Blackweil bad his office. She taught school here all her life. and family lived, all dead. On this next vacant lot was a perpetual pond and at the corner S. G.

Willfemson lived. Glen Williamsons grandfather. He was coroner here 91 years ago. Where Dr. Campbell lives, Ellis Hale and family lived, they are all dead.

On the street back of Campbell's, Judge Thos. Bradford lawyer and family lived. John and Tom are all that's there now. Where Ralph Mackey lives was a negro hut where Uncle Cherry lived. He was killed by his daughter-in-law, Kitty, with a bed slat.

Next was Judge Robert Savage house, Probate Judge here for 40 years. Land vacant to jail. It was at the same place and had a debtors cell in it. I don't think it could hold the people who run into debt now. They seem to have no fear of it.

Back of Dr. W. W. White, Hugh Cardon lawyer lived with large family. He loved horses and his' barn was where Mrs.

Laura Ward now lives. Mrs. Ward is all thats left of the Cardon family. Back of the Cardons, Mrs. Car-dons father Col.

S. K. McSpad-den, a lawyer lived. Now occupied by King Cardons widow. We had lots of lawyers and doctors then, but all were very prosperous.

Other doctors were Ellis Ward who lived where Webb Cardon lived and Dr. Sparks who lived where Ethel Morrison lives, and in the same house. Across the street G. P. Smith and large family lived, all dead except Mrs.

Louise Jordan. Back of Cobb's store, now Steeds drug store was the Post Office run by the McElrath family. They had a parrot which was the only one most of us had even seen and a great curiosity, saying polly wants a cracker, to our delight Across the street on first avenue John McConoel and family lived, then a vacant space to J. D. Jordans home bunt in 1851 by my uncle George Walden wba owned land to the river 1 am CONTINUES ON MG1 1.